How many transmission complaints does the 2018 Kia Soul have?

NHTSA lists 31 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul, which is 14% of the 218 total complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a transmission recall for the 2018 Kia Soul?

No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul.

At what mileage do 2018 Kia Soul transmission problems usually show up?

The median mileage at failure among these complaints is 34,634.5 miles.

Did the transmission issues cause any crashes or injuries?

NHTSA records show zero crashes, fires, or injuries linked to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul.

How does the 2018 Kia Soul compare to other years for this problem?

The 2018 Soul's 14% share of complaints tied to Transmission & Powertrain is higher than most other model years listed, though the 2020 Soul shows an even higher 23% share.

2018 Kia Soul Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 31 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul, 14% of its 218 total complaints for the year, with no related recalls on file. Median mileage at failure is 34,634.5 miles, and no crashes, fires, or injuries were reported.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints: 31; 14% of 218
Crashes reported: 0
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 0
Median mileage: 34,635 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

Owners report hesitation when pulling away from a stop, with the vehicle delaying acceleration before lurching forward.
Some describe the accelerator pedal traveling to the floor without the vehicle speeding up, then having the throttle response return only after releasing the pedal.
Several complaints describe the vehicle jerking or losing power while the accelerator was depressed, sometimes with a power-assist warning light coming on before the car resumed normal operation after a restart.
One owner reported the vehicle stalling and losing power steering while turning at around 35 mph, with the dealer unable to reproduce the issue.
A separate complaint described internal mechanical damage after the transmission malfunctioned during driving on a car with 33,000 miles on it.

When 2018 Kia Soul transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 26, 2018, latest Jun 23, 2026.

31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2018 to Jun 2026; peak Jan 2022 (3).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 Kia Soul

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Soul model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

201011 (8%)
201113 (7%)
201221 (4%)
201314 (2%)
201458 (6%)
201560 (7%)
201661 (8%)
201719 (7%)
201831 (14%)
20195 (4%)
202089 (23%)
202126 (11%)
202212 (14%)
20235 (10%)
20242 (7%)
20251 (8%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2018 Kia Soul have?: NHTSA lists 31 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul, which is 14% of the 218 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2018 Kia Soul?: No. NHTSA shows no related recalls tied to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul.
At what mileage do 2018 Kia Soul transmission problems usually show up?: The median mileage at failure among these complaints is 34,634.5 miles.
Did the transmission issues cause any crashes or injuries?: NHTSA records show zero crashes, fires, or injuries linked to the Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Kia Soul.
How does the 2018 Kia Soul compare to other years for this problem?: The 2018 Soul's 14% share of complaints tied to Transmission & Powertrain is higher than most other model years listed, though the 2020 Soul shows an even higher 23% share.